Magnetic drive coupling

Abstract

The driving (30) and driven (32) members of a magnetic drive (20) are separated by an enlarged gap (35) to provide clearance for a conduit (23) or other member. Flux pins (40) in the gap (35) maintain the torque transmitting capability of the drive (20). The spacing between two of the flux pins is increased to provide space for the conduit (23).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A magnetic drive coupling, comprising: (a) a rotatable driving magnetic member.   (b) a driven magnetic member rotatable on substantially the same axis as said driving member, said driven magnetic member being located substantially adjacent said driving member for magnetically and drivingly coupling therewith, and said magnetic members being separated by a predetermined gap therebetween,   (c) a plurality of flux pins located in said gap between said driving and driven magnetic members to reduce the reluctance of said gap, concentrate the magnetic flux in the interface between said members, reduce the torque diminishing effect of said gap, and enhance the torque transmitting capability of the coupling, and   (d) means providing at least one clearance space between a circumferentially adjacent pair of said flux pins to provide a passageway in said gap for passing components therethrough.   
     
     
       2. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said driving and driven magnetic members are a face drive substantially axially aligned opposite one another, and said gap is an axial gap therebetween. 
     
     
       3. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said driving and driven magnetic members are a substantially co-planar radial drive positioned radially opposite one another, and said gap is a radial gap therebetween. 
     
     
       4. The coupling of claim 1 further comprising a fluid conduit passing through said clearance space. 
     
     
       5. The coupling of claim 1 wherein said flux pins are made of soft magnetic material. 
     
     
       6. The coupling of claim 1 further comprising non-magnetic solid material separating said flux pins in said gap. 
     
     
       7. The coupling of claim 1 further comprising means fixing said flux pins in stationary positions in said gap. 
     
     
       8. A magnetic drive coupling, comprising: (a) a rotatable driving magnetic member,   (b) a driven magnetic member substantially axially aligned opposite said driving member to form a face drive therewith, being rotatable on substantially the same axis as said driving member, and being located substantially adjacent said driving member for magnetically and drivingly coupling therewith, and said magnetic members being separated by a predetermined axial gap therebetween.   (c) a plurality of flux pins made of soft magnetic material and located in said gap between said driving and driven magnetic members to reduce the reluctance of said gap, concentrate the magnetic flux in the interface between said members, reduce the torque diminishing effect of said gap, and enhance the torque transmitting capability of the coupling,   (d) means providing a clearance space between a circumferentially adjacent pair of said flux pins to provide a passageway in said gap for passing components therethrough,   (e) a fluid conduit passing through said clearance space, and   (f) non-magnetic solid material separating and fixing said flux pins in stationary positions in said gap.   
     
     
       9. A magnetic drive coupling method, comprising: (a) locating a driven magnetic member rotatably on substantially the same axis as a rotatable driving magnetic member, and substantially adjacent the driving member, for magnetically and drivingly coupling therewith, the magnetic members being separated by a predetermined gap therebetween,   (b) reducing the reluctance of the gap between the driving and driven magnetic members, concentrating the magnetic flux in the interface between the members, reducing the torque diminishing effect of the gap, and enhancing the torque transmitting capability of the coupling, by locating a plurality of flux pins in the gap between the driving and driven magnetic members, and   (c) providing at least one clearance space between a circumferentially adjacent pair of the flux pins to provide a passageway in the gap for passing components therethrough.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein the driving and driven magnetic members are a face drive substantially axially aligned opposite one another, and the gap is an axial gap therebetween. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9 wherein the driving and driven magnetic members are a substantially co-planar radial drive positioned radially opposite one another, and the gap is a radial gap therebetween. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 9 further comprsing passing a fluid conduit through the clearance space. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 9 wherein the flux pins are made of soft magnetic material. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 9 further comprising separating the flux pins in the gap with non-magnetic solid material. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 9 further comprising fixing the flux pins in stationary positions in the gap. 
     
     
       16. A magnetic drive coupling method, comprising: (a) locating a driven rotatable magnetic member substantially axially aligned opposite a rotatable driving magnetic member to form a face drive therewith, the members being substantially adjacent and rotatable on substantially the same axis for magnetically and drivingly coupling together, and being separated by a predetermined axial gap therebetween,   (b) reducing the reluctance of the gap between the driving and driven magnetic members, concentrating the magnetic flux in the interface between the members, reducing the torque diminishing effect of the gap, and enhancing the torque transmitting capability of the coupling, by locating a plurality of flux pins made of soft magnetic material in the gap between the driving and driven magnetic members,   (c) providing a clearance space between a circumferentially adjacent pair of the flux pins to provide a passageway in the gap for passing a fluid conduit therethrough, and   (d) separating and fixing the flux pins in stationary positions in the gap with non-magnetic solid material.